Splitting Checks

Okay, I get it. You go out to lunch with your fellow workers, sometimes as many as 10-12 and when the check comes you tell the server you all want separate checks. No problem, it can be done. May I suggest ways to make it more efficient all round.Understand that it takes time. Had the server known from the start she/he could have done the work ahead of time instead of at the end when you are ready to go.Lunch tabs are usually in the 8 to 12 dollar range. If this is something you do often consider carrying some cash on you. It's fast, easy and cash is always appreciated by the server and the owners.

Anyone who asks the server to split the check 12 ways after the fact is a jerk. It's amazing to me that people can't just figure this out on their own.

I don't think I've ever requested separate checks when dining out, now that I think of it. If you are constantly getting screwed over by your dining companions then you may need to re-think who you break bread with.

Good thought. Depending on the type of point-of-sale system the restaurant uses, splitting a check 10-12 ways AFTER it's all in the system, is most likely a huge pain in the butt! Where I work I'd have to print out the bill, figure out who had what, and then enter each order separately on a separate bill. 10-12 separate orders???? A good 10 minutes worth of work!!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand situations in which it is more comfortable for those involved to split the bill. If that is the situation these few things can help things run smoother. Always have one person inform the server before orders are taken. Everyone does not need to inform them, its a huge annoying waste of time. Please do not expect 12 people to get 12 pens with their checks, share. Oh and if the only mistake on the separate bills is one person was charged for someone else's soda please be rational and figure how to exchange $2. (the correct number for the party, one was just attached to the wrong person)

Many times after a weekend run a mixed group of people would go to a local breakfast joint to refuel. There are some couples, some loners. Some people are very high income, some are high school students or on a tight budget. We always let the waitress know ahead of time how the checks will split out. I don't know if it was annoying for the waitress but I do know that our group always tipped well, probably better with checks split than throwing it all in a kitty for one.

When I was a server, there was a common scam servers would pull to make extra money off of large tables with separate checks. Basically, if everyone ordered soda for example, they would only ring up one soda - then keep transferring it to the next check as they were printing all the checks out. It really only worked if everyone was paying cash though.

Ummmmm, I re-read Atomic76's post a couple of times and it sure seems like the servers were scamming the house, not the customers. Collect the cash for multiple sodas, then ring up only one....... pocketing the cash for the rest.

What Atomic wrote is extremely hard to decipher but I think it is based on the assumption that if a drink is left off the bill the patron will tip more. Or perhaps the customer was given the full bill then the servers removed a drink from the bill and pocketed the difference. Either way its stealing from the restaurant not the patron.